I may be wrong, but Crane doesn't really strike me as a "No Baggage whatsoever" type guy. I think if they are really are interested, they will step back and see what comes of any investigation, look into it themselves and reevaluate the cost vs. return. If it turns out to be a minor thing then it probably won't affect Chapman's value too much. If it turns out to be major and a long suspension comes out, the Reds won't even be able to trade him for Hank Conger's throwing arm.
Given the allegations...and assuming there's any substance to them...I wouldn't blame them for steering clear. Choking his girlfriend? Gunshots? Man....
There was no marks on her neck, so he probably didn't choke her, though that doesn't mean he didn't grab her neck at all. The admitted gun shots are certainly very concerning.
Just for clarification, I'm not condoning the Astros go after the guy (especially if any of the allegations are true) but was just replying with my perception that Crane does not seem as rigid in the "no baggage" ideology as McNair does. I don't really think he is Jerry Jones, willing to sign anyone that can play regardless of what they do, either
From going to the Dodgers to not finalized to domestic problems to temporarily unavailable to untradeable. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chapman has gone from hot commodity to untradeable. Teams previously interested are stepping aside, letting MLB investigate</p>— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/674318712598634497">December 8, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> For now, I guess.
It's possible that he'll be suspended for some or all of the coming season. No one will trade for him until the commissioner punishes him or decides no punishment is warranted. He'll be a free agent after 2016 season.
The Reds aren't gonna trade him if his value is low. They have until the All Star break, so there's no rush.
This would be risky. Deadline deals usually get a surcharge in a seller's market or a neutral market, but it isn't always crazy. That said if they wait, the receiving team doesn't get to offer him a QO and doesn't have him until near the deadline. His value is going to have to be quite diminished to make waiting worth it to Cincy. Caveat: This assumes Cincy doesn't think they can win 80 games this season and don't want to see if they can outperform expectations.
I keep hearing how the Cincy GM is very angry at Luhnow. And that he will not make a trade with Luhnow unless he rips him a new one. Well, he may end up sitting on an egg with Chapman if he gets suspended for any extended period of time. He may get nothing.
